About the Court

The
Court of Appeal for Ontario is located in historic Osgoode Hall in
downtown Toronto. The Court is composed of the Chief
Justice of Ontario,
the Associate Chief Justice of Ontario and
20 other judges, supplemented
from time to time by additional supernumerary judges. The court hears
over 1000 appeals and over 1000 motions each year. Appeals are heard
by panels of three or sometimes five judges. Motions are usually heard
by one judge but up to 25% of the motions heard in any year are dealt
with by panels of three judges. The courtís jurisdiction includes that
consideration of both civil and criminal appeals from decisions of
Ontario's two trial courts, the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario
Court of Justice.

Civil appeals deal with such subject areas as commercial disputes, property disputes, negligence claims, matrimonial and other family disputes, bankruptcies and corporate reorganizations. The court regularly must consider the fundamental rights of Ontarians arising out of rights enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court has been called upon to consider issues as varied as the definition of marriage, the determination of aboriginal rights, the valuation of shares in an initial public offering, the right to governmental funding for programs for disadvantaged persons and the resolution of property line disputes between neighbouring cottagers. The scope of matters that may be determined by the Court of Appeal is as broad as the scope of disputes that may arise between Ontarians.

Criminal
law matters include consideration of correctness of acquittals, convictions
and the fitness of sentences. In addition to appeals under the Criminal
Code, theYouth Criminal Justice Act and other federal criminal
legislation, the court also deals with appeals from convictions or acquittals
under provincial regulatory legislation, such as highway traffic, environmental
protection and workplace safety laws. The court may be called upon to determine
whether legislation or governmental conduct has violated rights of individuals
charged with offences, as guaranteed by the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. With the important involvement of
members of the defence bar who have volunteered to assist unrepresented inmates,
the court provides in-person hearings for those appellants who are incarcerated
and without counsel.

The Supreme
Court of Canada hears appeals from less than 3% of the decisions of the
Court of Appeal. In a very practical sense, the Court of Appeal is the last
avenue of appeal for most litigants in the province.

Construction of Osgoode Hall, a National Historic Monument, commenced in 1829. At least 10 expansions, renovations or restorations have taken place since then, the most recent being a 10 year project that has restored the building to its original grandeur and upgraded its infrastructure so that Osgoode Hall will continue to function as a working courthouse into the future.

Located within a park-like setting in the heart of Toronto, Osgoode Hall, like any courthouse, is open to the public. Tours are available daily.